Support apparatus for the actuating cylinder of a rail-mounted car

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is apparatus for supporting, in horizontal position, an actuating cylinder for a rail-mounted car. The apparatus of the invention includes a stationary support surface beneath the rails on which the car is mounted. A cylinder cradle having two spaced pairs of laterally extending brackets overlying the rails is detachably affixed to the support surface. A pivotally mounted wheel housing containing a wheel rotatable therein is disposed on each of the brackets with the wheel in the housing in engagement with one of the rails. A screwjack is provided threaded through each of the brackets and in pressure contact with the wheel housing attached to each bracket. Pressure may be applied to the wheel housing by turning the screwjack to lift the cylinder cradle from the support surface so that the cradle and the cylinder may be moved along the rails to a point where the cylinder can be conveniently removed from the cradle and a replacement substituted therefor.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Eino E. Seppala Waukegan, Ill. [2!] Al. No 836,835 [22] Filed June 26, 1969 [45] Patented June 1, 1971 [73]Assignee United States Steel Corporation [54] SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR THEACTUATING CYLINDER OF A RAIL-MOUNTED CAR 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] 0.8. CI 104/162 [51] 1nt.Cl B61b 13/12 [50] Field of Search 104/2,162, lnquired [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,606,5048/1952 Stamler 104/162 2,826,997 3/1958 Stamler 104/162 29/401 3,504,4214/1970 Gill Primary Examiner-Arthur L. LaPoint Assistant Examiner-RobertW Saifer A'tlomey Donald St Ferito ABSTRACT: Disclosed is apparatus forsupporting, in horizontal position, an actuating cylinder for arail-mounted car. The apparatus of the invention includes a stationarysup port surface beneath the rails on which the car is mounted. Acylinder cradle having two spaced pairs of laterally extending bracketsoverlying the rails is detachably affixed to the support surface. Apivotally mounted wheel housing containing a wheel rotatable therein isdisposed on each of the brackets with the wheel in the housing inengagement with one of the rails. A screwjack is provided threadedthrough each of the brackets and in pressure contact with the wheelhousing attached to each bracket. Pressure may be applied to the wheelhousing by turning the screwjack to lift the cylinder cradle from thesupport surface so that the cradle and the cylinder may be moved alongthe rails to a point where the cylinder can be conveniently removed fromthe cradle and a replacement substituted therefor.

5 Sheets-Sheet l Patented June 1,1971

Patented June 1, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gm NM hm INVENTOR. E/NO E.SEPPALA Patented June 1, 1971 3,581,669

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 3.

Arrorney SUPPORT APPARATUS IFOR THE ACTUATING CYLINDER OF A RAIL-MOUNTEDCAR The present invention relates generally to material handlingequipment and, more particularly, to an improved support apparatus forthe cylinder of a cylinder-actuated, rail-mounted car.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In manufacturing processes such as areinvolved in the production of continuous steel strip, the steel strip istransported from one station to another in coil form for processing. Forsuch transportation, the coil is carried on a rail-mounted car which ismovable along the rails of a submill floor trackway by means of a fluidpressure cylinder which is anchored in horizontal disposition in aconcrete cave or compartment. The compartment is located below the millfloor level at the end of the trackway on which the coil car is mounted.The piston rod of the cylinder is connected with the body of the coilcar.

Prior to my invention, considerable difficulty and mill operationinterruption were encountered whenever it became necessary, due tonormal wear or for any other reason, to replace the car-actuatingcylinder. Such difficulties arose from the fact that the cylinder waslocated below the mill floor level in the closely confined area of thecave or compartment, Each time it was desired to replace the cylinder,it was necessary for workmen to descend into the cylinder compartmentand begin the replacement operation by unbolting the cylinder from itsbase. After the cylinder was thus loosened from its base, an intricateand unsafe system of block-and-tackles and comealongs was used to removethe cylinder from the cave and lower it to the floor of the pit underthe coil car trackway from where it could be removed by an overheadcrane. This method normally required the services of four workmen for 8hours which caused a production time loss of 32 man-hours. In additionto being excessively time-consuming, the procedure was unsafe because ofthe ever-present possibility of sudden or uncontrolled movement of theheavy cylinder as it was being moved caused by the slipping and/orsliding of the cables which were being used to inch the cylinder out ofor into its normal anchorage in the cylinder compartment. This procedurewas also potentially hazardous for the cylinder itself since suddenslipping and/or sliding of the handling cables could cause the cylinderto be dropped to the pit floor or bumped against the concrete walls ofthe pit under the trackway which would result in damage to the cylinder.

It is, accordingly, the primary object of my invention to provide animproved support apparatus for the cylinder of a cylinder-actuatedrail-mounted car which cylinder is horizontally disposed in acompartment at one end of the trackway along which the car moves, andwhich apparatus permits ready removal or installation of the cylinder ina safe and damage-free manner.

It is more specialized object of my invention to provide apparatus asset forth in the statement of object above in which the apparatusincludes a support surface in the cylinder compartment spaced below therails of the trackway on which the car is mounted for travel; a cylindercradle frame detachably supported on the support surface between therails; two pairs of spaced brackets extending from opposite sides of thecradle and overlying the rails of the trackway; a wheel housing, havinga wheel rotatably mounted therein, pivotally mounted on each of thebrackets with the wheel in engagement with one of the rails of thetrackway; a screwjack on each of the brackets in adjustable engagementwith the wheel housing mounted thereon whereby the cradle is adapted tobe pivoted relative to the wheel housings and be raised clear of thesupport surface thereby permitting the cradle and the cylinder supportedthereby to be moved out of the compartment along the rails of thetrackway.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is a plan view;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1 partly in section;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2with a cylinder housing shown by broken lines; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial elevational view of the wheel housingarrangement of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly tothe drawing, reference numeral 2 designates the trackway, which includesa pair of spaced parallel rails 4, upon which a coil car 6 is wheelmounted for travel therealong. The coil car 6 is provided with a coilnest 8 projecting upwardly from its base for carrying a coil of stripsteel between processing stations (not shown) adjacent and above thetrackway 2.

The coil car 6 is actuated along the trackway by means of a fluidpressure cylinder 10 having a piston rod 12 reciprocal therein connectedwith the base of the car 6. The cylinder 10 is disposed in horizontalposition within a cave or compartment 14 below the floor level F of themill.

The structure thus far described is conventional except for the supportapparatus of the invention which will now be described in detail.

The support apparatus of the invention, designated generally byreference numeral 16, is normally disposed in the compartment 14 andconsists of a plurality of transversely extending T-shaped beams 18under the portion of the trackway 2 which extends into the compartment14. The beams 18 extend between longitudinally extending H-beams 20 uponwhich the rails 4 of the trackway 2 are supported. Each of the T-beams18 is provided with a flange 22 on its underside adjacent each endthereof which flanges rest on the bottom flanges of the H-beams 20, asbest shown in FIG. 3.

A bedplate 24 is detachably affixed to the upper flange surface of eachof the T-beams 18 by nut-and-bolt means 26 which project throughdiametrically opposite corners of the plates and through the upperflanges of the T-beams 18. A cradle frame 28 which is substantiallyH-shaped in configuration having upright sides 30 and a cross platemember 32 extending between and connecting the sides 30 extends alongthe support surface formed by the Tbeams l8, resting on the plates 24.The bottom of the side members 30 of the cradle frame 28 are rigidlyaffixed to the bedplates, as by welding.

A housing 34 is removably attached to opposite ends of the cradle frame28 by nut-and'bolt means 36, which pass through the lower portions ofthe housings 34 and the cross plate 32 of the cradle frame. The cylinder10 is detachably confined by the housings 34 in conventional manner.

The upright sides 30 of the cradle frame 28 are vertically extendedadjacent each end of the frame, as at 37, to a height above the level ofthe rails 4 and have projecting normal therefrom brackets 38 whichoverlie the rails 4 on opposite sides of the ends of the cradle frame28. Pairs of spaced, parallel gusset plates 40 may be provided affixedto and extending between the outer surfaces of the sides 30 and theundersurfaces of the brackets 38 to aid in supporting the brackets.Pairs of spaced reinforcing plates 41 extend between the bottom portionsof the cradle sidewalls 30 aligned with gusset plates 40.

Stop members 46 in the form of blocks may be welded or otherwise rigidlyafiixed adjacent the forward edge of the upper flange of each of theT-beams 18 for the purpose of limiting movement of the bedplates 24 inthe direction of the piston end of the cylinder 10. Although thenut-and-bolt means 26 are sufficient to hold the bedplates 24 inposition during normal operations, the stop blocks 46 insure againstshearing of the nut-and-bolt means 26 under excessive or abnormalstrain.

Upright reinforcement plates 42 may be affixed, as by welding, to thebedplates 24 extending upwardly and welded to the outer verticalsurfaces of the sides 30 of the cradle frame 28 for further rigidifyingthe frame structure.

A short supporting lug 44 is affixed to the underside of each of thebrackets 38 adjacent the end thereof for pivotally mounting the apex end50 of a substantially triangular-shaped wheel housing frame 52. Thewheel housing frame 52 is pivotally mounted on the lug 44 by means of ashaft 54 which extends through the wheel housing frame and the tubing44. A wheel 56 is rotatably carried by the wheel frame 52 in the endthereof remote from its apex end 50 for engagement with and travel alongone of the rails 4. The upper portion of each wheel frame 52 above thewheel 56 is formed with a bearing plate 58 which cooperates with ajackscrew 60. Jackscrew 60 is threaded through an internally threadedboss 62 on the top surface of each bracket and an internally threadedopening 64 provided through the bracket aligned with the boss 62.

in operation, whenever it becomes necessary to remove cylinder forreplacement or maintenance purposes, the cylinder is actuated to projectits piston rod 12 to move the coil car 6 to a point remote from thecompartment 14 along the trackway 2. The coil car is securely tied intoposition at this remote point by cables or other means (not shown). Aworkman then enters the compartment 14 and disconnects the cradle frame28 and bed plates 24 from the T-beams 18 by removing the nut-and-boltmeans 26. After the cradle frame assembly has been loosened, the workmanthen proceeds to turn the jackscrews 60 to cause the wheel housings 52to rotate about the pins 54. This causes the cradle frame 28 and thebedplates 24 to rise above and clear the upper flanges of the T-beams 18and the stop blocks 46. Cylinder 10 is then actuated to cause retractionof the piston rod 12. Since the piston rod is securely fastened to thecoil car 6 and the coil car is anchored at a point remote from thecylinder 10, actuation of the cylinder 10 to retract the piston rod willcause the cylinder and the cradle 28 together with bedplates 24 to movealong the rails 4 on the wheels 56 out of the compartment 14. After thecylinder and cradle assembly has thus been moved out of thecompartment14, the cylinder 10 can easily be disconnected from the cradle frame 28by removal of the nutand-bolt means 36. The piston rod 12 is thendisconnected from the coil car and the cylinder is removed from thecradle frame 28 by means of an overhead crane.

After the cylinder has been removed from the cradle frame as explainedabove, a new or reconditioned cylinder is lowered by crane to the emptycradle frame 28 and attached thereto by reinstalling the nut-and-boltmeans 36, after which the piston rod 12 may be connected to the coil car6, which is still securely tied at a point along the trackway 2 remotefrom the compartment 14. The cylinder 10 is then actuated to project thepiston rod 12 which action causes the cradle frame 28 bed assembly 24 toroll along the rails 4 into the compartment 14. When the cradle framebedplate unit has been properly positioned above the T-beams l8,jackscrews 60 are turned sufiiciently to allow the cradle frame 28 andthe bedplates 24 to drop into contact with the T-beams 18 after whichthe bedplates 24 are again affixed to the T-beam 18 by means ofnut-and-bolts 26. The coil car 6 is then released from anchorage so thatit is free to move along the trackway 2 in a normal manner.

Thus, it will be seen that the objects set forth above to which theinvention has addressed itself have been accomplished. Through use ofthe apparatus of the invention, the replacing of the cylinder 10 can beaccomplished by two men in about 1 hour for a total of two man'hours ascompared to the need for four men in 8 hours for a total of 32 man-hoursrequired prior to my invention. The apparatus of the invention furthermakes it possible to use a safer method for removing a coil car cylinderand a method in which there is a minimum danger of damage to thecylinder while it is being removed or installed.

It will be noted that, if desired, the loosened cradle frame 28 andbedplates 24 may be manually withdrawn from the compartment 14. Whenthis is done, the piston rod 12 is disconnected from the coil car 6 andremains in retracted position in the cylinder 10. The coil car 6 remainsat a point remote from the compartment 14 but is not secured there. Inthis method after the cradle frame and bedplate assembly has beenloosened and raised clear of the T-beams 18, the cradle frame 28 may begrasped and manually pulled along the rails 4 out of the compartment 14.

lclaim:

1. In a rail-mounted car movable along a pair of rails by the piston rodof an anchored fluid pressure cylinder horizontally disposed in acompartment at one end of said rails, said rails extending into saidcompartment, the improvement therewith of support apparatus for saidcylinder in said compartment, said apparatus comprising a rigid supportsurface in said compartment spaced below said rails, a cradle framesupported on and extending along said support surface between saidrails, means detachably affixing said cylinder to said cradle inhorizontal position, a pair of spaced brackets extending from oppositesides of said cradle and overlying said rails, a wheel housing having awheel rotatably mounted therein pivotally mounted on each of saidbrackets with said wheel in engagement with one of said rails, jackmeans on each of said brackets in adjustable engagement with.the wheelhousing mounted thereon whereby said cradle is adapted to be pivotedrelative to said wheel housings and be raised clear of said supportsurface thereby permitting said cradle and cylinder to be moved out ofsaid compartment along said rails, and means detachably affixing saidcradle to said support surface when said cradle is resting on saidsupport surface.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which said means detachablyaffixing said cradle frame to said support surface includes a pluralityof transversely extending bedplates spaced along said support surface,said bedplates being rigidly affixed to the bottom of and extendingbeyond the sides of said cradle frame, and detachable bolt meanssecuring said bedplates to said support surface, said detachable boltmeans projecting through said support surface and the portions of saidplates extending beyond the sides of said cradle frame.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 2 including rigid stop plates on saidsupport surface adapted to be engaged by the bedplates when said cradleframe and bedplates are resting on said support surface whereby movementof said bedplates along said support surface is limited.

1. In a rail-mounted car movable along a pair of rails by the piston rodof an anchored fluid pressure cylinder horizontally disposed in acompartment at one end of said rails, said rails extending into saidcompartment, the improvement therewith of support apparatus for saidcylinder in said compartment, said apparatus comprising a rigid supportsurface in said compartment spaced below said rails, a cradle framesupported on and extending along said support surface between saidrails, means detachably affixing said cylinder to said cradle inhorizontal position, a pair of spaced brackets extending from oppositesides of said cradle and overlying said rails, a wheel housing having awheel rotatably mounted therein pivotally mounted on each of saidbrackets with said wheel in engagement with one of said rails, jackmeans on each of said brackets in adjustable engagement with the wheelhousing mounted thereon whereby said cradle is adapted to be pivotedrelative to said wheel housings and be raised clear of said supportsurface thereby permitting said cradle and cylinder to be moved out ofsaid compartment along said rails, and means detachably affixing saidcradle to said support surface when said cradle is resting on saidsupport surface.
 2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which said meansdetachably affixing said cradle frame to said support surface includes aplurality of transversely extending bedplates spaced along said supportsurface, said bedplates being rigidly affixed to the bottom of andextending beyond the sides of said cradle frame, and detachable boltmeans securing said bedplates to said support surface, said detachablebolt means projecting through said support surface and the portions ofsaid plates extending beyond the sides of said cradle frame. 3.Apparatus as defined by claim 2 including rigid stop plates on saidsupport surface adapted to be engaged by the bedplates when said cradleframe and bedplates are resting on said support surface whereby movementof said bedplates along said support surface is limited.